A time to uproot...

"There is an appointed time for everything,

and a time for every affair under the heavens.

A time to give birth, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

 

My flowers were pretty well killed off by the frost last weekend, so the other night I pulled them out, or uprooted them, as scripture says.  It was kind of sad at first.  They were especially fun this year, what with the surprise zinnias that were poofy and unusual.  But, as I was pulling them up, I thought of the daffodil and tulip bulbs that are buried beneath this very soil.  And how they are waiting patiently to make their showy entrance around April-ish.  And I thought of next year's garden and how I will be open to "surprise me" flowers, since I so enjoyed the poofy zinnias. It's the circle of life. And it is wonderful to behold. Now I will be able to spend evenings inside curled up with a good book, a cup of tea and nice soft music and not outside working in the yard. There is new life after death; a lesson from the garden for us this autumn day.  Blessings on your Thursday! I am on my way to Leavenworth and the Motherhouse!  Love, heidi

Just like Jonah

"But the Lord asked, 'Have you reason to be angry?'"

Jonah 4:4

 

This always makes me giggle because, here is Jonah, himself a beneficiary of God's mercy (God saves him from the belly of the whale--Jonah Chapter 2) and yet, when God decides to spare the city of Nineveh, Jonah gets all mad and pouts in his new little hut.  Jonah is so much like us when we are happy to enjoy God's mercy, but then hold a grudge over someone else.  Mercy is merciful, and as we bask in the infinite mercy of God, we must also extend that mercy to others.  It is so easy to say (or even type!) but so much harder to do in real life.  We may scoff at our friend Jonah, but the same human nature that causes Jonah to pout and stew is also in us.  Today, let's be aware of being kind and merciful to others, just as God is to us.  Blessings on our Wednesday!  Love, heidi

No more dancin'!

"To abstain from returning injury for injury is a divine act intended to prevent the devil from dancing twice."

Fr. Ed Hays, "A Book of Wonders"

 

Fr. Ed Hays explains that when someone wrongs us the devil does a happy dance. And if we respond with retaliation, the devil dances again, even happier than the first dance.  And I would add that if we hang onto the anger, bitterness, estrangement and a lack of forgiveness, the devil is in a dance marathon! Let's pull the devil's dance card and respond the way Jesus tells us; by praying for those who hurt us and loving our enemies.  My mother used to say, "Two wrongs don't make a right."  And I could add that "Two hurts just keep the devil dancin'."  Is there someone we need to forgive today?  Is there someone we need to ask forgiveness for a wrong we have done to them?  Let's clear the air, kiss and make up and sit the devil down!  Love, heidi

Stir it up!

"Beloved, I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands."

2 Timothy 1:6

 

I really love the phrase "stir into flame!" It is so vivid and paints such a great picture of our hearts on fire for God! We all have been on top of the spiritual mountain, where we have a powerful spiritual experience and never want to leave.  Fact is, though, we must descend the mountain and go back to real life, which may not keep us on the spiritual high we just encountered.  St. Paul is telling Timothy here that the embers of spiritual joy may need to be fanned into flame once again.  And how does one do this?  Well, I can think of a couple things...First, spending time in silence and solitude, reading God's Word--really digesting it--such as in Lectio Divina.  Spending time alone with God is like those bellows we use on a fireplace, concentrating air into the embers and giving them what they need to burst into flame again.  Second, perhaps the opposite, joining with others in sharing our spiritual journeys.  Sharing with others gives us the chance to voice what God has done in us and for us and having those words out there can fuel the fire within.  Also, hearing of others' journeys can nurture our own faith.  We heard in a great homily last night that one cannot have faith in a vacuum, our faith flourishes best when shared.  So, this autumn Monday, let's consider how we can "stir into flame" the fire that God has placed into each of us!  Blessings on your day, love, heidi